Low-end adjustment mechanism for vehicle suspensions

Abstract

A low-end adjusting mechanism for vehicle suspensions useful for compensating rolling and pitching motions and for leveling purposes, in which a vehicle spring ( 1 ) having a longitudinal axis is mounted between two spring seats or receptacles ( 2, 3 ), and at least one spring seat can be adjusted in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the spring by rod shaped coupling elements which are mounted at both ends in an articulated or pivotable manner.

1. A low-end adjustment mechanism for a vehicle suspension, said mechanism comprising a vehicle spring having a spring longitudinal axis, wherein:
 said vehicle spring is secured between first and second spring receptacles, at least the first spring receptacle is adjustable in the direction of the spring longitudinal axis via bar-shaped coupling elements which are pivotably mounted at both ends, 
 the bar-shaped coupling elements assume a spatial angle and are each operationally linked at a first end to the second spring receptacle via a first fastener and mounted at a second end on a second fastener, and 
 the first spring receptacle is adjustable in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the spring by a relative rotation between first and second fasteners. 
 
     
     
       2. The low-end adjustment mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein the relative rotation is effected using a worm drive. 
     
     
       3. The low-end adjustment mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein one of the first and second fasteners is mounted so it is axially displaceable and rotationally fixed, and the other of the first and second fasteners is mounted so it is axially fixed and rotatable. 
     
     
       4. The low-end adjustment mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein the first fastener is constructed in two parts and comprises an inner element and an outer element; the respective first ends of a first set of coupling elements are mounted on the inner element; the respective first ends of a second set of coupling elements are mounted on the outer element, and the second ends of the first and second sets of coupling elements are arranged on the second fastener on identical or different pitch circles. 
     
     
       5. The low-end adjustment mechanism according to  claim 4 , wherein the outer element and the inner element are rotatable relative to each other; and wherein one fastener is mounted so as to be moveable both axially and rotationally, and the other fastener is axially fixed, so that upon relative rotation of the inner and outer elements, the fastener opposite the two-part fastener executes a stroke movement in the direction of the spring longitudinal axis. 
     
     
       6. The low-end adjustment mechanism according to  claim 4 , wherein the ends of the first set of coupling elements disposed opposite the inner element are situated on a smaller pitch circle than the ends of the second set of the coupling elements which are disposed opposite the outer element. 
     
     
       7. The low-end adjustment mechanism according to  claim 4 , wherein the inner element and the outer element form centric rings. 
     
     
       8. The low-end adjustment mechanism according to  claim 4 , wherein the inner element and the outer element are pivotable in relation to one another by a worm drive. 
     
     
       9. The low-end adjustment mechanism according to  claim 4 , wherein the inner element and the outer element comprise rings which are pivotable in relation to one another using a pinion gear situated between inner and outer elements which engages in outer teeth of the inner ring and inner teeth of the outer ring. 
     
     
       10. The low-end adjustment mechanism according to  claim 9 , wherein the pinion gear is drivable using a worm gear. 
     
     
       11. The low-end adjustment mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein the second fastener is constructed in two parts and comprises an inner element and an outer element; the respective second ends of a first set of coupling elements are mounted on the inner element; the respective second ends of a second set of coupling elements are mounted on the outer element, and the first ends of the first and second sets of coupling elements are arranged on the first fastener on identical or different pitch circles. 
     
     
       12. The low-end adjustment mechanism according to  claim 11 , wherein the outer element and the inner element are rotatable relative to each other; and wherein one fastener is mounted so as to be moveable both axially and rotationally, and the other fastener is axially fixed, so that upon relative rotation of the inner and outer elements, the fastener opposite the two-part fastener executes a stroke movement in the direction of the spring longitudinal axis. 
     
     
       13. The low-end adjustment mechanism according to  claim 11 , wherein the ends of the first set of coupling elements disposed opposite the inner element are situated on a smaller pitch circle than the ends of the second set of the coupling elements which are disposed opposite the outer element. 
     
     
       14. The low-end adjustment mechanism according to  claim 11 , wherein the inner element and the outer element form centric rings. 
     
     
       15. The low-end adjustment mechanism according to  claim 11 , wherein the inner element and the outer element are pivotable in relation to one another by a worm drive. 
     
     
       16. The low-end adjustment mechanism according to  claim 11 , wherein the inner element and the outer element comprise concentric rings which are pivotable in relation to one another using a pinion gear situated between inner and outer elements which engages in outer teeth of the inner ring and inner teeth of the outer ring. 
     
     
       17. The low-end adjustment mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein the coupling elements are mounted at both ends by ball and socket joints. 
     
     
       18. The low-end adjustment mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein the second spring receptacle is constructed in the form of a bowl-like spring plate, and the coupling elements are at least partially situated interiorly of the spring. 
     
     
       19. The low-end adjustment mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein the spring is a coil spring.